carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." Happy are they who "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," and who are satisfied with the portion which God allots them in the present world!

4. He wished for a return to his native home. "So that I come again to my father's house in peace." Jacob was on a journey, but he looked forward to a time when he should revisit home. The thought of home gladdens the heart; and a home ought to be looked upon by us as one of God's mercies. When we leave our homes we should remember God; for he only it is who can preserve us, and give us a safe return to those who are dear to us.

II. Jacob's resolve. "Then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee." Jacob resolves,

1. To be faithful to God. He would not become an idolater. The God of Abraham and Isaac should be his God. He would acknowledge the true God, and no other; and he would regard him, with adoration, gratitude, and love, as his confidence and his portion.

2. To establish the worship of God. God requires of us outward worship as well as inward acknowledgment. How frequently does this sort of language occur in the lives of the patriarchs! "And there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord." Jacob resolved that this place should be a place for divine worship; and thus he reminds us, that the visible worship of God is a great branch of our duty to him.

3. To consecrate a part of his property to God. He would give a tenth of all for the support of religion. We and our property belong to God, and let us surrender each to him. If we be religious, we shall willingly do what we can, according to our means, for the spiritual welfare of mankind. The rich will give

according to their abundance, and the pious widow will not withold her two mites.

Such was the piety of Jacob; wise, spiritual, humble, devout, and practical; and this piety is essential to our welfare. Let Jacob's wish and resolve be ours. We may lament the folly and perverseness of mankind, who will not attend to these things: but let us pray for them, and also for ourselves, that such piety may prevail in the world.

THE PRAYER.

O gracious God, I contemplate with joy the piety of this thy servant; grant that through thy grace such piety may be mine. Make me contented with my lot in life, and let my earnest wish be to have thy favourable presence and almighty protection; and let it be my constant endeavour to glorify thee in all my ways. Grant this, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ our only Saviour. Amen.

LECTURE XI.

JOSEPH.

But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Genesis xxxix. 21, 22, 23.

THE history of Joseph is commonly and justly considered as a most interesting and instructive narrative.

Perhaps it is too frequently read merely for the sake of the pleasure which is furnished by such an affecting series of events, without sufficient attention to the great lessons which it teaches us. We follow him with lively interest in every stage of his life. We sympathize with him in all his troubles; we rejoice in his elevation; we observe with eagerness his conduct to his brethren; and we melt in tenderness when he discovers himself to them, and when he meets his venerable father. In short, there is nothing that relates to him but what is calculated to fix our attention.

But the Bible is intended to instruct us, not to amuse us. We should therefore meditate on the character of Joseph, and on the conduct of God towards him. In his history we see how God acts towards his people; and we learn how we ought to act, and what we are to expect. We shall therefore now bring forward a few leading particulars, by the due consideration of which, it is hoped, the character of this Patriarch may be better understood.

I. We may observe the Piety of Joseph. Enough is said, though it be little, on this subject to show that he was pious. He did not join with his brothers in their wickedness, but "brought unto his father their evil report." He might have been indiscreet; but it is clear that he was averse to wicked practices. When he interprets the dreams of the butler and baker, his language is, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" After two years we see him standing before Pharaoh, to interpret his dreams; and here again we hear him referring all to God with plainness and simplicity. He owns the true God in an idolatrous court. When he discovers himself to his Brethren, we find him making this pious acknowledgment. "And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house,

and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." These passages show a pious frame of mind; an acquaintance with, and an acknowledgment of God. It is repeatedly said, that “the Lord was with him:" a full proof of his piety.

II. We notice the firmness and integrity of Joseph's piety. When he was urgently and repeatedly solicited by his master's wife to commit adultery, what was his conduct? "He refused." What was his principle? "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Here is reflection, and gratitude, and real piety. He feared God. He could not thus wilfully break his laws. His religion is sound and firm; it stands in the hour of trial. It is not to be vanquished by either pleasure or interest.

III. We may remark the troubles of Joseph. God designed him for great purposes, and he brought him up in the school of trial. His troubles began in early life, in his own home. The love of his father rested on him; but his brothers "hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him." By and by he is cruelly torn by them from an affectionate father, and sold into a strange country. After he had obtained honour and confidence in his master's house, we see him cast into prison on a false accusation, where he abides for two years. He shows in these touching words what his feelings were. "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me; and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon." Thus did the iron enter into his soul. Thus he was acquainted with

change and bitterness.

IV. We may reflect on the comforts of Joseph. If he had many trials and troubles, yet he must have had much comfort.

1. He must have had the satisfaction of a good con

science. He could reflect on all his conduct, and rejoice. His trials were not the punishment of his sins. He suffered for righteousness' sake, and therefore there must have been an unfailing spring of happiness in his bosom.

2. But we must observe, that although God tried Joseph he did not forsake him. It is expressly said, "But the Lord was with Joseph." The presence of God is the true comfort of man. Whatever our trials

are, if we can look to God, and repose on him, and hope in his mercy and favour, we must enjoy true happiness. This happiness Joseph had in all his sorrows.

V. Let us now consider Joseph's exaltation. Having interpreted the dreams of the king, and shown himself to be a man of judgment, he was made governor of Egypt. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck: And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had: and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt." Here is a sudden and great elevation. Thus God was pleased to recompense the fidelity of his servant. "Godliness is profitable unto all things." We are not indeed to expect temporal grandeur as the reward of piety. Godliness does much for our temporal good; but its pleasures are spiritual; its glories are beyond the grave.

VI. We may view Joseph as a son and brother. Being exalted, does he forget his father, or punish his cruel brethren? No. "Doth my father yet live?" is the affecting question he makes on the discovery of himself; and to his brethren on the same occasion he spoke in the most affectionate terms. "And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover, he kissed all his brethren and wept upon them: and after that his